Daniel Amos Message Board | Print: Top 5 Dig Here Songs

Posted by brother joel on 07-15-2013 at16:54:

I am in the minority in really liking "Forward in Reverse." I find it to be a song that declares expectation about heaven and the power of grace in a person's life. It also provides a prophetic call to treat everyone with grace as we await the coming of our Lord. I do think it works as an opening song. It does present itself as a quirkier number, but I find that to be some of why I like it so much.
That being said, it took me a while to choose my top 5 because the entire album ranks up there with my top 5 DA albums of all time. Each song has quickly lept to the top of my most listened to songs on my ipod. Here are my top 5 in no particular order (keep in mind that the other six are also top songs):
Forward in Reverse
Dig Here Said the Angel
Love, Grace, and Mercy
Now That I've Died
Ruthless Hum of Dread

Posted by Ron E on 07-15-2013 at18:16:

Maybe its introducing the theme...here's what you're about to experience...? I am wondering if its a "firm" theory of album composition for Terry et al, or if its a coincidence, or if I'm just way out to lunch as I usually am...

Posted by wakachiwaka on 07-15-2013 at19:08:

quote:

Originally posted by Ron E
Maybe its introducing the theme...here's what you're about to experience...? I am wondering if its a "firm" theory of album composition for Terry et al, or if its a coincidence, or if I'm just way out to lunch as I usually am...

It seems to be a recurring practice which goes all the way back to "Shotgun Angel", of devoting the opening track of an album to a musical and/or lyrical "thesis statement", before launching into the album proper. Certainly the first two Alarma Chronicles albums followed this motif.

Posted by Audiori J on 07-15-2013 at21:58:

The song is in my top five, I like it because its odd and different. I like it as an opener because I kind of like the album starting out with silence then small and quiet and gentle and then ramping up.

I am not sure if Terry and the band sits down and thinks this is an opener song, I think they just go with how the album feels as a whole. I may be wrong about that, but that's the impression I got.

The first CDR I heard of the album rough mixes had the songs in a different order, with "Dig Here" as the first song. So I thought the album would start with the backward sounds of that song. Then at some point in the process they reshuffled the songs and picked a final order. It seemed like the order wasn't determined until all the songs were almost complete.

Posted by sondance on 07-15-2013 at23:46:

nice discussion and different views - it's going to be fun to get the buzz once the CD is on the racks and see what happens to the poll.

anybody know how many songs were profffered as candidates before they selected this eleven?

Posted by Audiori J on 07-16-2013 at08:01:

That I don't know. When I went down with my brother to film in the studio, they already had these songs laid out and were working them.

Posted by audiori on 07-16-2013 at16:08:

I remember seeing a sheet of lyrics that I didn't recognize... but it may have just morphed into one of the album songs. not sure.

Posted by Jimmy Brown on 07-24-2013 at14:27:

Text

It took me a while to get the time to listen to my advanced download, but now I've listened start to finish twice. It's a brilliant piece of soul surgery, and I love every song on it. If I'm limited to five, they would be (for now):

Jesus Wept (my favorite I think)
Love, Grace, and Mercy
Waking Up Under Water
The Uses of Adversity
The Sun Shines on Everyone

As always seems to be the case, this Daniel Amos album arrived at the just the right time for me. It has a lot to say about things I've been thinking about for the past year or more. I feel somehow less fragmented and better understood when I listen to it, even if only "here I am."

Posted by baxter on 07-24-2013 at20:20:

Cool

Posted by sondance on 07-26-2013 at00:48:

quote:

Originally posted by baxter
Cool

nice shades

Posted by Mark on 07-27-2013 at09:37:

Jesus Wept

Posted by Tyler Durden on 08-04-2013 at14:27:

Top 5 after repeated listenings

I really like the whole album, so this is not a diss on any song.
1. Waking Up Under Water: Lyrics I love:

I closed my eyes and I fell in love
Her kiss was the one I was dreaming of
I close my eyes and she’s there for me

The woman I lost and the child that is forever broken always appear in my dreams as happy and whole, so this song connects in ways I am sure are not accurate, but that is the power and freedom of music.

2. Our New Testament Best

I could’ve gone to war, become a God of Wrath
My fingers snap (Flash!) and baby, you’d be nothing but ash
But I thought better of it

The temptation for getting back at those that have damaged is tempered with the mercy proclaimed in the New Testament. Probably why Christians don't have 2,000 year old grudges that they allow their children to be killed over. Kurt Vonnegut said it like this: "There are plenty of good reasons for fighting, but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty Himself hates with you, too."

3. Dig Here Said the Angel

“You’re gonna suffer for awhile”
“I’ll tell you straight,” said the angel
“Don’t plan to go out in style”

This is not prosperity gospel being preached here. The devastating truth can be a healing balm against the wishful thinking that distracts from embracing the realities of life. It also reminds me to take the advice of Kurt Vonnegut: "I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'" Enjoy the blessings amidst the hurt and brace for what is coming.

4. We'll All Know Soon Enough

Now we’re thinking that our prayers aren’t answered
‘Cuz when it came the answer was “No”
the same rock we stood on crushed us

I don't like that answer one little bit, my human side says.

5. The Ruthless Hum of Dread
In a pauper’s field of dreams
I’m walking in between open-mouthed graves
Anxious to be fed
And all my buried intentions are groaning for transition

This is a great album. I have other favorite lyrics, such as Terry's delivery of "I'm never cynical, but still a little sarcastic." in Now That I've Died, but the above are my favorite songs for now.

Posted by pegotico on 08-08-2013 at11:15:

RE: First Song?

quote:

Originally posted by sondance
Given the ranking for Forward in Reverse in the poll, others may, as I do, think it was not the best choice for the first song. In truth I was very taken back when that song began. By the time they wrapped it up I thought it worthy to be on an album with high expectations, but when it began I was greatly disappointed, thinking it sounded like a rehash on a large scale, particularly of MB's Dream, like getting an appetizer that ruins the anticipation for the main course.

he he, I thought that "forward in reverse" was a MBD lost song definitely sounded as it was left behind for the next album.

quote:

Originally posted by audiori We'll All Know Soon Enough (this song absolutely kills me... Ed kicks burro on the drums... Terry's vocals will tear you apart (as it probably did his throat)... Rob's spooky B3 stuff in the background... Tim's bass rumbling down below... the weird noisy stuff... Greg's perfect guitar part.. the strings towards the end, interrupted by the crashing drums... hearing it in the studio gave me chills... Terry did quite a few takes for the vocals and with each take, his voice would crack or add some little flavor that just sent chills down the spine).

funny this is my favorite song and just out of fun I thought Terry took 1 week of rest before recording it and then voice rehab after... lol, HE definitely did a great job with his voice this album

my other 4 are:

waking up under water
dig here said the angel
love grace and mercy
forward in reverse @Sondance, yep I voted for this one, reminds me of my DA favorite album.........

Posted by sondance on 08-08-2013 at15:08:

well "F in R" is holding its own against one i picked: "Sun"

it is interesting to see the variety of favorites.

in spite of these picks i never know which one may snag my sub-conscious next. the song last in the poll had it going just the other day... "we got dressed in our NT best..." on & on.

didn't they do a good job of sinking the hooks? and that is a good thing in this case.

Posted by pegotico on 08-09-2013 at08:36:

quote:

Originally posted by sondance
well "F in R" is holding its own against one i picked: "Sun"

it is interesting to see the variety of favorites.

in spite of these picks i never know which one may snag my sub-conscious next. the song last in the poll had it going just the other day... "we got dressed in our NT best..." on & on.

didn't they do a good job of sinking the hooks? and that is a good thing in this case.

yep they did Big Grin

, all eleven songs have made the favorites..

Posted by baxter on 08-13-2013 at22:19:

Cool

I just got the album yesterday. At this point, I don't know how to respond. I think every song has dazzled me, even with just a cursory listen. Plan to listen deeply tonight. This may be their best ever.

Posted by joey on 08-14-2013 at17:03:

Cool

Posted by BeamMeUpScotty on 09-07-2013 at00:53:

Cool

RE: Top 5 Dig Here Songs

1.) Now That I've Died (Rockin' Great tune from the first spin)
2.) Jesus Wept (Also pretty great from the first few listens)
3.) Love Grace & Mercy
4.) Our New Testament Best (Wow! This one has really grown on me. I can't believe I used to forward past this song).
5.) Dig Here Said the Angel

Posted by WoaaahJelly! on 09-07-2013 at08:23:

Now That I've Died (excellent)
The Ruthless Hum of Dread (Ed's track teaser from YouTube, I believe)
The Sun Shines On Everyone
Dig Here Said the Angel
Love, Grace, and Mercy

Waitin' for the vinyl! Waitin'!!

Edit- did anyone else get a strong "Zoom Daddy" vibe from some of the tracks? First pass I wasn't too impressed. I thought, "This is just Terry all dark and morose and being obsessed with death again". But I listened closer and realized I have to stop making snap decisions. DA stuff is not superficial. It plays well end-to-end, an "album" album if you will.